Legendary by Stephanie Garber (ARC)

The publisher kindly sent me a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister’s. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…the games have only just begun.

Review:

If you’ve been around my blog long enough, or follow me on Twitter, then you’ll know I’m a huge fan of Caraval. When I read Caraval last year, it quickly became my most favourite read of 2017. It was filled with such magic, both in the story and in the characters. I also thoroughly enjoyed Garber’s writing style as it was fluid and descriptive – it always made me feel as though I was in the story along with Scarlett and Tella.

When I found out that there was going to be sequel, I squealed with joy! I couldn’t wait to get more from this story and these characters. I was lucky enough to be given the chance to read the story early when I was sent an ARC, and I must say, it did not disappoint!

In Caraval, I really enjoyed Scarlett’s character. I liked her character development and watching her journey throughout the experience of the Caraval game. This time around, we got to follow Tella. I wasn’t sure how I was going to enjoy the story being as we were now following Tella around rather than Scarlett, but I loved it!! I actually thoroughly enjoyed Tella as a main character in this book and to be quite honest, I enjoyed her more than Scarlett. She’s sassy, fierce, dependable and knowledgeable. She’s extremely loyal and defends those she loves with such passion, it was hard not to want the best for her throughout this book.

The other characters we get to enjoy in this novel was extremely entertaining for me! We of course got to hear from Scarlett and Julian as well as Dante. But we were introduced to the Fates, which added a really great mysterious feel to the novel. One that I think was a great addition. There was also the introduction of a few other characters that really added to the story. Another aspect that was great is the addition of some romantic elements that did not overpower the story but rather, complimented and added to my overall enjoyment of the book.

The plot of this novel was a great development from the first novel. It was fun in Caraval that Scarlett got to play the game she’s dreamed about, even though it came with sacrifices. But in Legendary, there is more meaning behind the game. Specifically, Tella’s reasoning for playing the game was deeper and it resonated with me. It wasn’t just a game this time. It was incredibly important to her that she participate and win. It represented Tella’s character immensely and I constantly found myself curious about what would happen next. It was written at a great pace and so much was revealed in this novel that I think shows not only the direction that the novel is going, but also the development of Garber’s writing.

I am so overjoyed that there will be a third book in this series, called Finale. Legendary ended in such a way that you feel satisfied but you also can’t wait to see what will happen next. As I said, a lot was revealed in this book. But, as it’s Caraval, I’m unsure as to how much of that is real and how much is a trick.

So, beware my friends, things in Caraval are not always what they appear to be. But that being said, you definitely need to grab yourself a copy of Legendary. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. Definitely a favourite read of 2018!! For that, it gets 5 magical, glorious and absolutely shining stars!!

Rating: ★★★★★

Favourite Quote:

“She tried to smile then. She was finally the hero. All it had cost her was everything.”

About the Author:

When she’s not writing, she teaches creative writing at a private college in Northern California, where she’s been known to turn assignments into games and take students on field trips that involve book signings.